Bowling game apparatus and ball resetting and returning mechanism for the same



1965 c. K. VINCENT BOWLING GAME APPARATUS AND BALL RESETTING ANDRETURNING MECHANISM FOR THE SAME Filed Sept. 28, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1C/arence Wncenf INVENTOR. 2M f ATTORNEY c. K. VINCENT 3,224,766

Dec. 21, 1965 BOWLING GAME APPARATUS AND BALL RESETTING AND RETURNINGMECHANISM FOR THE SAME! 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1962 9 Z2 2276% fiffll't /*F x W 20 y 4 AZ? 4D 6/00 6/76 2 Mace/72 0 J 2 1/INVENTOR. Z21

Al'fO/P/VEV Dec. 21, 1965 c. K. VINCENT 3,224,766

BOWLING GAME APPARATUS AND BALL RESETTING AND RETURNING MECHANISM FORTHE SAME Filed Sept. 28, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 C/arewce ff. l //7C6/7 fINVENTOR ELLMZW ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1965 c, viNcE -r 3,224,766

BOWLING GAME APPARATUS AND BALL RESETTING AND RETURNING MECHANISM FORTHE SAME Filed Sept. 28, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 C/arefic e /K. l///7ce/7zINVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent BOWLING GAME APPARATUS AND BALLRESET- This invention relates to game apparatus of the type used inbowling and more particularly to bowling apparatus in which balls areused instead of the conventional pins and wherein mechanism is providedwhich operates automatically to reset and return the balls during theplaying of the game.

The invention has for an important object the provision of howling gameapparatus which may be operated continuously without the presence ofattendants and which functions automatically to clear, sort, return andrespot the playing pieces.

Another object of the invention is to provide bowling game apparatusembodying mechanism which functions automatically upon the playing of apredetermined number of bowling balls to terminate the play byrespotting the spotting balls and returning the bowling balls to resetthe apparatus for the next play.

A further object of the invention is the provision in bowling gameapparatus of electrically operated ball clearing, sorting and respottingmechanism which functions automatically upon the occurrence of apredetermined event or sequence of play to reset the apparatuspreparatory to the next play.

Another object of the invention is to provide bowling game apparatusmaking use of spotting balls in place of the usual bowling pins and inwhich the spotting balls and bowling balls are of different weights, theapparatus including mechanism for sorting the balls in accordance withthe weight of the balls to return the bowling balls and position thespotting balls for respotting.

A further object of the invention is the provision in bowling gameapparatus of the kind referred to of clearing mechanism which isactuated in response to the playing of a predetermined number of bowlingballs to clear the spotting balls preparatory to the respotting of thesame.

Another object of the invention is to provide in bowling game apparatusof the type mentioned of ball sorting, returning and spotting mechanismincluding means which functions in response to a predetermined actuationof such mechanism to clear the spotting area.

A further object of the invention is the provision in bowling gameapparatus of ball respotting mechanism by which the spotting balls areautomatically respotted at the close of a predetermined sequence ofplay.

Another object of the invention is to provide bowling game apparatuswhich is of simple design and rugged construction, certain in operationand which is easily maintained.

The above and other important objects and advantages of the inventionmay best be understood from the following detailed specification of theinvention, when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the game apparatus, showing themanner in which the game is played;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the invention as illustratedin FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE1, looking in the direction indicated 7 by the arrows;

3,224,766 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 FIGURE 5 is a fragmentarycross-sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, on a somewhat enlargedscale, showing the ball clearing, returning and spotting mechanism ofthe apparatus;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary rear end elevational view of a portion of theball clearing mechanism of the apparatus in a preliminary stage of itsoperation;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 7 showing the clearingmechanism in another stage of operation;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of parts of the ball clearingmechanism in disassembled condition showing details of structurethereof;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the ball spottingmechanism, showing the manner in which the same operates in resettingthe spotting balls;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary, crosssectional view, on a greatly enlargedscale, taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10, looking in the directionindicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary, perspective view, on a greatly enlargedscale showing a portion of the ball spotting mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the bowling gameapparatus of the invention includes an alley, generally designated 10,having more or less the same general construction as a conventionalbowling alley, provided at one end with a spotting area 12 upon whichspotting balls 14 are positioned in any desired arrangement such as thatused in conventional bowling games using pins. The spotting area may beprovided with slight indentations in its surface, such as those shown at16 in FIGURE 5, arranged in a desired pattern and by which the spottingballs are prevented from rolling about or becoming dislodged from thedesired arrangement when spotted in playing positions on the alley.

The alley may be formed with the usual playing surface 18 including thespotting area 12 and has a gutter 20 along each side, which are definedby external, upright sidewalls 22.

Along one side of the alley there is a bowling ball return track made upof a pair of spaced apart parallel rails 24.

The ball sorting and return mechanism of the invention is located at thefar end of the alley beyond the spotting area 12, and includes arotatably mounted, generally circularly shaped elevator, generallydesignated 26, positioned to receive the spotting and bowling balls andby which the bowling balls are returned to the player along the returntrack while the spotting balls are diverted to positions to be respottedon the spotting area.

The ball sorting mechanism comprises a wheel-like elevator of angleshape in cross-section, having ,an outer peripheral wall 28 and asidewall 30, which elevator is suitably mounted for rotation on acentral, horizontally extending shaft 32, as by means of a centraldisc-like member 34, attached to the shaft and connected to the wall 30by means of radially extending spokes 36.

A longitudinally downwardly inclined chute portion 38 is provided at thefar end of the alley beyond the spotting zone, which chute portion hasupwardly and outwardly inclined side portions 40, positioned to divertthe balls inwardly and rearwardly along the chute as the balls roll oilof the spotting area.

The elevator is positioned so that the inner face of the peripheral wall28 will extend slightly below the outer 0 end of the downwardly curvedcentral portion 38 of the chute, as best seen in FIGURE 4, so that theballs may readily roll down the chute on to the inner face of theperipheral wall. Because of this arrangement of the chute and elevatoronly one ball at a time can enter the elevator.

Within the elevator a number of ball carrying vanes 42 are hingedlyconnected at their inner ends, as by means of pins 43, one to each ofthe spokes 38 for vertical swinging movement toward and away from theouter peripheral wall 28. The vanes 42 are positioned to engage theballs, as the balls roll off of the spotting area and down the chuteinto the interior of the elevator, so that each ball will be separatelylifted by one of the vanes as the elevator rotates to elevate the balls.

Within the elevator an internal annular rib 29 is provided, as shown inFIGURE 5, on the inner face of the peripheral wall 28, at a locationspaced from the free edge of the wall at a distance somewhat greaterthan the length of the radius of the bowling and spotting balls, inposition to be engaged by the balls as they enter' the elevator. Becauseof the position of the rib 29 and the downwardly curved configuration ofthe central portion of the chute 38, the balls will be caused to rolldown the chute and into the elevator one at a time, and as each ballenters the elevator it will block the next subsequent ball from enteringthe elevator, so that only one ball may move into engagement with eachof the vanes 42 to be elevated thereby, thus preventing interferencebetween the balls during the sorting and redispensing of the balls bythe elevator.

Each of the vanes 42 has an upstanding wall 44 along its edge oppositethe side wall 30 of the elevator, so that a ball positioned on the vanewill be disposed between the wall 44 of the vane and the sidewall 30 toprevent the ball from rolling off of the vane out of the elevator duringelevation of the ball thereby. The pins 43 extend outwardly beyond thesidewall 30 of the elevator and each pin has a lever 46 fixedly mountedthereon, which lever is connected at one end to a coil spring 50 whichis also connected to the sidewall 30, to yieldably urge the lever in onedirection of rotation. The sidewall 30 is also provided withperipherally spaced stop elements 52, one for each of the levers 46,positioned for engagement by the levers to limit rotational movement ofthe levers under the influence of the spring 50. The free ends of thelevers 46 are each provided with a laterally projecting 54, for apurpose to be hereinafter explained.

By this arrangement as the balls roll down the chute into the elevatoreach ball will be separately lifted by one of the vanes 42, and,depending upon the weight of the ball the vane will be more or lessrotated to rotate the pin 43, whereby the corresponding lever 46 will berotated with the pin 43 against the tension of the spring 50.

The spotting balls are preferably substantially lighter in weight thanthe bowling balls, so that when a spotting ball enters the elevator tobe lifted by one of the vanes 42, the spotting ball will not besufliciently heavy to substantially rotate the vane, but when a bowlingball, which is of heavier construction enters the elevator and is liftedby one of the vanes the bowling ball will cause the vane to rotate aboutthe pin 43, against the resistance of the spring 50, to rotate thecorresponding lever 46 whereby the lever will be moved to an extendedposition, as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8.

The rails 24 of the return track are bent at the far end of the alley,as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6, to position end portions 56 of therails in a location above the center of the elevator to receive thebowling balls as the bowling balls fall from the vanes 42 when the vanesreach an elevated position and the extended end portions of the trackare slightly inclined, so that the bowling balls will roll downwardlyalong the track to return the balls to a convenient location for reuseby the player.

Ball clearing mechanism is provided for removing any spotting balls fromthe spotting area after a predetermined number of bowling balls havebeen played, which clearing mechanism comprises a horizontally extendingsweep-arm 58, mounted for horizontal swinging movement above thespotting area to sweep the spotting balls therefrom. The sweep-arm ismounted at one end on a vertical shaft 60, mounted for rotation insuitable bearings 62 and 64, attached to one sidewall of the alleyexteriorly thereof, which shaft carries a bevel gear 66, which mesheswith a similar gear 68 carried on the end of a horizontal operated shaft70, mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 72 and 74, positionedexteriorly of the sidewall of the alley. The shaft carries at its otherend a disc 76. The disc 76 is connected to the shaft 70 for limitedrotation relative to its shaft as by means of a peripheral elongatedrecess 78 in the shaft, into which a set screw 79 in a hub 80 on thedisc is extended, so that the disc may have limited rotatable movementrelative to the shaft and the shaft will be rotated with the disc aftersuch limited relative rotation movement. The disc is also provided withperipherally spaced, radially extending actuator arms 82 and 84, whoseouter ends extend radially beyond the outer periphery of the disc.

By this construction of the clearing mechanism when a bowling ballenters the elevator and is lifted therein by one of the vanes 42, thisvane will be rotated by the relatively heavy bowling ball to rotate thecorresponding lever 46, to extend the outer end of the lever radiallyoutwardlly from the elevator, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, so that theouter end of the lever will engage the actuator arm 82 of the disc 76 torotate the disc relative to the shaft 70, throughout the extent of theperipheral recess 78, thus moving the actuator arm 84 to the positionillustrated in FIGURE 8 preparatory to swinging the sweep-arm 58 toclear the spotting area. With the sweeparm mechanism thus set inposition for actuation, when a second bowling ball enters the elevatorit will engage one of the vane 42 to rotate the same as the ball islifted to rotate the corresponding lever 46 to extend the outer end ofthe lever to a position for engagement with the actuator arm 84,whereupon the disc 76 will be rotated as the elevator turns to-rotatethe shaft 70 with the disc, whereby the sweep-arm 58 will be swunghorizontally across the spotting area.

The sweep-arm 58 is connected to a coil spring 86, connected to thesidewall of the alley, whereby the swingarm will be returned to itsinactive position after a swinging operation has been performed, thusrotating the shaft 70 in a direction to return the disc 76 to theposition of FIGURE 7, ready for the next play.

The ball spotting mechanism of the invention comprises a rack, generallydesignated 90, formed with trackways or guides, preferably formed ofmetal rod or tubing 92, attached at one end to an elongated receiver 94,of angle shape in cross-section, and which is pivotally mounted at itsopposite ends on brackets, such as that indicated at 96 in FIGURE 6, forvertical swinging movement above the spotting area. The rack includescounter bearing means, such as the weight 98, attached to the receiver94 and additional means may be provided, such as the coil spring 100,shown in FIGURE 6, connected to the counterweight 98 by an arm 102 andto a stop support 104, carried by the brackets 96, through which stopsupport an adjusting screw 106 is threadably extended in position forengagement with the counterweight 98 to limit upward swinging movementof the rack.

The trackways 92 of the rack are provided at their outer ends with loops108, of enlarged diameter, each of which is located immediately aboveone of the depressions 16 of the spotting area, the loops beingsufiiciently large to allow the balls 14 to fall through the loops ontothe spotting area when the rack is in its lowered position. The receiver94 is provided with a V-shaped notch 110 located in axial alignment withthe end of the endmost of the trackways, between the rails 92 thereof,to allow the endmost one of the balls 14 to roll off of the receiveronto the trackway when the receiver is completely loaded with spottingballs, to over-balance the rack, whereby the rack is caused to tiltdownwardly to cause the balls to roll down along the trackways andthrough the loop 108 onto the spotting area at the exact locations inwhich the balls are positioned for playing. The rack may be providedwith downwardly extending lugs 93 whose lower ends are positioned forengagement with the ball spotting area when the rack swings downwardlyto limit such downward swinging movement of the rack.

A spottingball diverting trackway having rails 112, similar to thetrackway 92, is provided, extending transversely across the alley,forwardly of the elevator, as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 6, in positionto receive the spotting balls as the same roll off of the vanes 42 asthe elevator rotates, this trackway being curved and sloped to cause thespotting balls to roll along the trackway onto the receiver 94, when thereceiver is in its elevated position, until the receiver is completelyloaded with the balls, as illustrated in FIGURE 10. When the last of theballs 14 rolls onto the receiver, it will engage the preceding ball,which will be resting on the receiver within a recess 114 therein, sothat the last ball will engage the preceding ball at a location to causethe last ball to roll out of the notch 110 onto the endmost trackway, asillustrated in FIGURE 10, whereupon the rack will be overbalanced, tocause the rack to swing downwardly to allow the balls to roll downwardlyalong the trackway and onto the spotting area.

A latch lever 116 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 118 adjacent thedisc 76, which latch extends upwardly for engagement at its upper endwith a lug 120 on the disc 76, which is positioned to releasably holdthe disc with the actuating arms 82 and 84 in position to be actuated bythe elevator, and this latch 116 is connected to the spotting mechanism,as by means of a chain 122, at a location to release the latch when thespotting mechanism is actuated, to allow the disc 76 to rotate back toits initial position when the sweep-arm 58 returns to its inactiveposition under the influence of the spring 86.

The rack 90 may be provided with upwardly extending arcuate flanges 124,partly supporting the annular enlargements 108, positioned forengagement by the balls 14 to check the rolling movement of the ballswhen they reach the enlargements, to cause the balls to fall through theenlargements on to the spotting area.

The elevator 26 is rotated by suitable means, such as an electric motor126, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, connected in driving relation to theshaft 32, as by means of suitable speed reducing mechanism indicated at128, whereby the elevator is rotated at a substantially constant speedduring the operation of the apparatus.

In using the game apparatus, constructed and arranged as describedabove, assuming that the spotting balls are all in proper positions onthe spotting area and the ele vator is being rotated by the motor 126,the player will roll a bowling ball 130 down the alley to dislodge thespotting balls, in the usual manner. The bowling ball, together with thespotting balls which have been thus dislodged will roll down the chute38, and because of the shape of the chute and the fact that the innersurface of the peripheral wall 28 of the elevator passes slightly belowthe upper surface of the chute at the bottom of the elevator the ballswill roll into the elevator one at a time, each to be engaged by one ofthe vanes 42 to separately lift the balls as the elevator rotates. Thespotting balls, being of relatively light weight will not besufficiently heavy to tilt the vanes 42 so that the levers 46 will notbe actuated by the spotting balls to actuate the swing-arm mechanism.When, however, the first bowling ball, which is of greater weight entersthe elevator it will depress the vane 42 which it engages, to rotate thecorresponding lever 46 to extend the free end 54 of the lever to aposition to engage the actuating arm 82 to rotate the disc 76,preparatory to actuation of the sweep mechanism. When the second bowlingball enters the elevator the vane 42 engaged thereby will likewiseactuate the corresponding lever 46 to extend the free end 54 of thelever to a position to engage the second actuator arm 84 as the elevatorrotates to rotate the disc 76 to actuate the swing-arm 58 to clear thespotting area of any balls which may still remain thereon.

As the elevator rotates the bowling balls will remain on the tiltingvanes 42 until the balls reach a position to fall onto return trackway24, whereupon the balls will roll along the return trackway back to thelocation where the player is standing. The spotting balls, on the otherhand, being somewhat lighter than the bowling balls will not tilt thevanes 42 so that the spotting 'balls will be carried further than thebowling balls and will roll oil of the vanes as the elevator rotates ata location to fall on the diverting trackway 112, along which thespotting balls will roll to the receiver 94. As best seen in FIGURE 3,the trackway 112 terminates at a location to discharge the spottingballs onto the receiver at the end of the receiver adjacent to the notchthereof and the receiver slopes somewhat in a direction to cause theballs to roll along the receiver past the notch 110 to allow the ballsto accumulate on the receiver as shown in FIGURE 10; when the receiverhas thus been completely loaded, the last ball to reach the receiverwill engage the preceding ball, which is seated in the recess 114 of thereceiver, to cause the last ball to roll out of the notch 110 onto thetrackway associated therewith, to over-balance the rack which will thenswing downwardly to allow the balls to roll down the trackways 92 ontothe spotting area. The notch 110 is of a size and shape to allow thespotting balls to roll along the receiver 94 without rolling off of thereceiver through the notch, but when the next to the last ball entersthe receiver it will move into the recess 114, so that the last ball toenter the receiver will engage the next to the last ball at a locationto cause the last ball to roll oif of the receiver through the notch 110as shown in FIGURE 10 to cause the rack to swing downwardly,

It will be apparent that any convenient number of the spotting balls 14may be used with the apparatus, by suitably constructing a spottingmechanism, and that the apparatus may also be readily constructed tooperate the sweep mechanism after any desired number of bowling ballshave been played. It will also be appreciated that the spotting ballsand bowling balls may be made of the same size or of different sizes, byforming the same of various materials so that the required diiierence inweight will be maintained to allow the bowling balls to be returned bythe elevator and the spotting balls to be sorted from the bowling ballsfor respotting by the spotting mechanism.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides bowling game apparatuswhich is automatic and reliable in operation and which may be easilyrepaired and maintained in operating condition.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with a particularembodiment of the same but it will be understood that this is intendedby way of example and that various changes can be made in theconstruction and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention what is new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In bowling game apparatus for use with spotting balls and bowlingballs of the same size and of different weight than the spotting ballsthe combination with an alley structure having a horizontally disposedplaying surface including a ball spotting area at one end thereof uponwhich the spotting balls are positioned to be dislodged by rolling thebowling balls along said surface, of means for sorting balls which rolloff of said surface and returning the bowling balls to the other end ofthe alley and replacing the spotting balls on said spotting area, andmeans responsive to the actuation of said sorting means 7 after therolling of a predetermined number of the bowling balls off of saidsurface for clearing the spotting area of spotting balls.

2. In bowling game apparatus for use with spotting balls and bowlingballs of the same size and of different weight than the spotting ballsthe combination with an alley structure having a horizontally disposedplaying surface including a ball spotting area at one end thereof uponwhich the spotting balls are positioned to be dislodged tby rolling thebowling balls along said surface, of elevator means positioned toreceive and lift balls which roll off of said surface and includingmeans for discharging the bowling balls and spotting balls at differentlevels from the elevator means, spotting mechanism positioned to receivespotting balls discharged from the elevator means and deposit the sameon said spotting area, means for conveying bowling balls discharged fromthe elevator means to a location adjacent the other end of the alley,and means responsive to the elevation by the elevator means of apredetermined number of said bowling balls for dislodging all spottingballs remaining on said spotting area.

3. In bowling game apparatus the combination with spotting balls andbowling balls of the same size as and of different weight than thespotting balls and an alley structure having a horizontally disposedplaying surface including a ball spotting area at one end thereof uponwhich the spotting balls are positioned to be dislodged by rolling thebowling balls along said surface, of ball sorting mechanism positionedto receive balls which roll off of said surface including meansresponsive to the weight differential between the bowling balls andspotting balls for separating the balls and for returning the bowlingballs to the other end of the alley and means for replacing the spottingballs at predetermined locations on said spotting area.

4. In bowling game apparatus the combination with spotting balls andbowling balls of the same size as and of different weight than thespotting balls and an alley structure having a horizontally disposedplaying surface including a 'ball spotting area at one end thereof uponwhich the spotting balls are positioned to be dislodged by rolling thebowling balls along said surface, of ball sorting mechanism positionedto receive balls which roll off of said surface including meansresponsive to the weight differential between the bowling balls andspotting balls for separating the balls and for returning the bowlingballs to the other end of the alley and means for replacing the spottingballs at predetermined locations on said spotting area.

5. In bowling game apparatus the combination with an alley structurehaving a horizontally disposed playing surface including a ball spottingarea at one end thereof and spotting balls adapted to be positioned onthe spotting area to be dislodged by bowling balls rolled alongsaidsurface, all of the balls being of the same size and the bowling ballsbeing formed of heavier material than the spotting balls, of meansresponsive to the weight differential between the bowling balls andspotting balls for sorting balls which roll off of said surface andreturning the bowling balls to the other end of the alley and forreplacing the spotting balls on said spotting area includinghorizontally extending rack means positioned above said'spotting area,means mounting the rack means for vertical swinging movement, and meansfor moving the spotting balls ont-o the rack at locations to cause therack to swing downwardly toward the spotting area in response to themovement onto the rack of a predetermined number of said spotting ballsand means for causing the spotting balls to be deposited on the spottingarea at predetermined locations thereon when the rack reaches the limitof its downward swinging movement. a

6. In bowling game apparatus the combination with spotting balls andbowling balls of the same size and of different weight than the spottingballs the combination with an alley structure having a horizontallydisposed playing surface including a ball spotting area at one endthereof upon which the spotting balls are positioned to be dislodged byrolling the bowling balls along said surface, of elevator meanspositioned to receive and lift balls which roll off of said surface andincluding means responsive to the weight differential between 'thebowling balls and spotting balls for discharging the bowling balls andspotting balls at different levels from the elevator means, spottingmechanism positioned to receive spotting balls discharged from theelevator means and deposit the same on said spotting area in response tothe discharging of a predetermined number of said spotting balls fromsaid elevator means, and means for conveying bowling balls dischargedfrom the elevator means to a location adjacent the other end of thealley.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,400 11/1908Brenneman 273-41 1,706,271 3/ 1929 Williams 273-43 1,927,217 9/1933Price 209-121 2,336,427 12/1943 Urmy 273-43 2,495,473 1/1950 Peck 273-43X 2,961,237 11/1960 Montooth 273-43 2,983,510 5/1961 Blewitt 273-43RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, ANTON O. OECHSLE,

Examiners,

1. IN BOWLING GAME APPARATUS FOR USE WITH SPOTTING BALLS AND BOWLINGBALLS OF THE SAME SIZE AND OF DIFFERENT WEIGHT THAN THE SPOTTING BALLSTHE COMBINATION WITH AN ALLEY STRUCTURE HAVING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSEDPLAYING SURFACE INCLUDING A BALL SPOTTING AREA AT ONE END THEREOF UPONWHICH THE SPOTTING BALLS ARE POSITIONED TO BE DISLODGED BY ROLLING THEBOWLING BALLS ALONG SAID SURFACE, OF MEANS FOR SORTING BALLS WHICH ROLLOFF OF SAID SURFACE AND RETURNING THE BOWLING BALLS TO THE OTHER END OFTHE ALLEY AND REPLACING THE SPOTTING BALLS ON SAID SPOTTING AREA, ANDMEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE ACTUATION OF SAID SORTING MEANS AFTER THEROLLING OF A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF THE BOWLING BALLS OFF OF SAIDSURFACE FOR CLEARING THE SPOTTING AREA OF SPOTTING BALLS.